Mainspring-winder.



G. w. Bownas. MAINSPRING WINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1909.

wizessefii 64/. 6? M Patented N 0v. 2, 1909.

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eazfge ML OWer J' w wv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. BOWERS, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO HAMMEL, RIGLANDER & (30., OF NEW'YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LIAINSPRING-WINDER.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE V. Bownns, of Somerville, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mainspring-Finders, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and effectivedevice for winding or unwinding the mainspring of a watch or clock, andpermitting its convenient ap plication to the barrel with which itcooperates.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a mainspringwinder embodying my invention, the winder being shown in its conditionprior to the winding operation, or at the commencement of the same. Fig.2 represents an end eleva tion of the winder in the condition shown inFig. 1. Figs. 3 and 1 represent views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showingthe winder at the close of the winding operation. Fig. represents asection on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents a side view of one ofthe winding mandrels removed from the machine.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In the drawings,12 represents a supporting frame having a bearing inwhich is removably mounted a rotatable springengaging and windingmandrel 13, one end of which is provided with a stud 15 adapted toengage the orifice usually formed in the inner end of a mainspring 16,so that the rotation of the mandrel will wind the spring upon themandrel in a constantly increasing spiral coil, means being employed, ashereinafter described, for supporting one side of the growing coil, andfor exerting pressure on one side of the spring strip to cause theconvolutions of the coil to lie in close contact with each other duringthe entire winding operation, the result being the formation of aclosely wound coil upon the mandrel, the coil and mandrel beingremovable to gether from the frame so that the coiled spring may beconveniently transferred to the accompanying barrel.

The preferred means for supporting and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 22, 1909.

Patented Nov. 2,1909.

Serial No. 473,725.

causing the compact winding of the spring include a face plate 17 whichis preferably of circular form, and has a slot 18 through which theouter end portion of the mandrel 13 projects, said slot permitting theface plate to move crosswise of the mandrel from the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2 to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The face plate has a flat outer side at right angles with the mandrel,said side .being formed to support the growing coil formed on themandrel.

19 represents a finger or wiper which is connected with the face plateso as to move therewith in a direction at right angles to or crosswiseof the mandrel, and isarranged to bear upon the outer side of the spring16, and press the successive convolutions toward the mandrel, and thuscause the compact winding of the spring. The wiper 19 is preferably arod or pin removably inserted in a sleeve 20 affixed to the face plateabove the mandrel, one end of said pin projecting from the outer side ofthe face plate in position to bear on the spring strip during thewinding operation.

Means are provided for pressing the wiper yieldingly toward the mandrel,and permitting the wiper and the face plate to move together in thedirection required to separate the wiper from the mandrel, andaccommodate the increasing diameter of the coil, said means, as hereshown, comprising a rod or stem 21 attached to the face plate 17 andmovable in a guide 22 formed on the frame 12, said rod havin a springabutment 23 preferably formed by a thumb nut adjustably engaged with thethreaded outer end portion of the rod, and a spring 24 interposedbetween the guide 22 and the shoulder 23, said spring acting to normallyhold the face plate and wiper in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and permitting said parts to be displaced by the increasing coil, asindicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

As above stated, the mandrel is removably mounted in the frame so thatat the conclusion of the winding operation the mandrel and spring coiledthereon may be removed from the frame. To permit the convenient rotationof the mandrel when it is in its operative position, I provide anoperating shaft 25 which is journaled in a bearing in the frame inalinement with the mandrel, said shaft being rotatable by suitablemeans, such as a crank 26. The shaft is provided with a coupling member27 adapted to detachably engage a complemental coupling member 28 on theinner end of the mandrel, said members being so formed as to cause therotation of the mandrel by the shaft, and to permit the mandrel to bemoved endwise out of engagement with the shaft andfroin the frame.

To prevent accidental removal of. the mandrel from the frame during thewinding operation, I provide a securing device comprising a latch pin 29which is carried by a spring 30 attached to the frame 12, and isnormally pressed inwardly by said spring able side support anda wiperengaged therewith,'the supportand wiper being adapted to bearrespectively on the side and perimeter of a coiled spring accumulatingon'the mandrel, the said support and wiper being movable crosswise ofthe mandrel, and means for exerting a'yielding pressure on the sidesupport and wiper to press the wiper yieldingly toward the mandrehthesaid side sup port andv wiper being movable against such 7 pressure bythe enlargement of the coil.

2. A mainspring winder comprising a supporting frame, a slotted faceplate forming a bearing for one side of a coiled spring, and providedwith a wiper adgacent to the slot,

a rotatable spring-engaging and winding mandrel removably mounted in theframe and projectingtherefrom through the face plate slot, said faceplate and wiperbeing movable crosswise of the mandrel, and means forexerting pressure on the face plate to V yieldingly press the wiperagainst the per-V imeter of the coil formed. by winding a spring 7 onthe mandrel. I

A mamsprmg winder comprising a supportmg'frame, a slotted face plateforming a bearing for one side of a coiled spring, and

provided with a wiper adjacent to the slot, a rotatable spring-engagingand winding mandrel removably mounted in the frame andprojectingtherefrom through the face plate, the frame being provided with a guideand the face plate with a stem extending I through said guide, and aspring interposed between the guide and an abutment on the stem andadapted to yieldingly press'the wiper toward the mandrel.

4-. A mainspring winder comprising asupportmg frame, a rotatablespring-engaging and wmdmg mandrel removably mounted 1n the frame andprojecting therefrom, a movable side support and a wiper connectedtherewith adapted to bear respectively on V.

the side and perimeter of a coiled spring ac cumulating on the mandrel,said side sup-v port and wiper being movable crosswise of the mandrel,means for pressing the wiper yieldingly toward the mandrel, and an oper*ating shaft journaled in the'frame in alinement with the mandrel, saidshaft and mandrel being provided with complemental separable couplingmembers adapted to im-v part rotation from the shaft to the mandrel;

5. A mainspring winder comprising a supporting frame, a rotatablespring-engaging and winding mandrel removably mounted in the frame andprojecting therefrom, a movable side support and a wiper connectedtherewith adapted to bear respectively on the side and perimeter of acoiled spring accumulating on the mandrel, saidside support and wiperbeing movable crosswise of the mandrel, means for pressing the wiperyieldingly toward the mandrel, an operating shaft journaled in the framein alinement with the'mandr'el, said shaft and mandrel being providedwith .complemental separable coupling members adapted to impart rotationfrom the shaft to the mandrel,

and meansfor preventing the removal of v the 'mandrel from the frameduring the winding operation.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses. V

GEORGE w. nownns.

lVitnesses: V

C. F. BROWN,

P. W. PEzzE'r'rI.

